Consequences of Happiness

Synonyms

Definition

Effects of enjoying life or not, on oneself, on other people and society.

Description

While the focus of happiness research is typically on determinants of happiness, there is also a strand of research on consequences of happiness. An early publication on this subject was published by Veenhoven in 1988. A recent review of the literature is found in Lyubomirsky, Diener, and King, (2005). A listing of all the literature on this subject is available in the Bibliography of Happiness (Veenhoven, 2012) Section Q “Consequences of Happiness,” which involved some 300 titles in January 2012.

Relevance

Knowledge on effects of happiness is relevant in discussions on the value of happiness and in particular in discussions on the merits of the utilitarian creed that we should aim at greater happiness for a greater number of people. If happiness has bad consequences, such as making people lazy uncritical and egocentric, that would plea against this ethical...